Chest pull type exercisers

ABSTRACT

The U-shaped clips which connect the exerciser tension elements to the handles are further secured to the handles by eyelets on the clips, a wire clip extending through the eyelets, and detents on the handles for the wire clip.

United States Patent [191 [11] 3,873,088 Panepinto [4 Mar. 25, 1975 [54] CHEST PULL TYPE EXERCISERS 125,400 4/1872 Lawson 24/205.l9 3,427,023 2/1969 Silberman [75] lnvemor- Hlnsdale, 3,680,858 8/1972 Ossenkop et al 272/83 R [73] Assignee: AMF Incorporated, White Plains,

Primary Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro [22] Filed. July 22, 1974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George W. Price; Walter Lewis [211 Appl. No.: 490,490

[52] US. Cl 272/83 R, 24/205.l9, 272/DIG. 4 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl A63b 21/00 The U-shaped clips which connect the exerciser ten- [58l Field of Search 272/83 R, 82, 80.79 R, sion elements to the handles are further secured to the 272/DlG. 4; 24/207, 205.19, 205.18, 205.17 handles by eyelets 0n the clips, 3 wire clip extending through the eyelets, and detents on the handles for the [56] References Cited wire clip.

U NITED STATES PATENTS l0/l870 Starrett et al 24/205.l9

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 CHEST PULL TYPE EXERCISERS This invention relates to an improvement in chest pull type exercisers, and more particularly, to means for safely, but removably, securing the tension elements to the handles.

The invention is best understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a broken away perspective view of a preferred form of the invention; FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the handle of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the U-shaped retainers of FIG. 1.

As shown in the drawing, a single piece molded plastic handle is provided. It has a generally U-shaped hand grip and a base portion 11. Base 11 has a row of transverse slots 12. A plurality of generally U-shaped retainers 13 are nested in the slots 12. Retainers 13 are single piece elements bent to shape from flat metallic spring stock, and they are the means for removably connecting opposite ends of tension elements, such as coil springs 14 to a pair of handles.

The base portions 11 are actually hollow so as to conserve on the amount of plastic material utilized. The slots 12 are defined by side walls 12 and end walls 12". At their upper ends the end walls 12" are thickened, and the retainers 13 are contoured so that when they are nested in the slots 12, they are snug therein. The retainers 13 have bottom eyelets 13 so the springs 14 can be hooked thereon. The free ends of the retainers 13 have eyelets 13''. These eyelets l3 overhang the opposite end edges of the slots 12. Thus there is a row of aligned eyelets 13" along each edge of the side of base portion 11 which faces the hand grip 10.

In order to add or subtract springs 14, all that is necessary is to squeeze a pair of eyelets 13" together to insert or remove the retainers 13 from the slots 12. The retainers 12 are seated in the slots 12 and cannot be pulled through when the springs 14 are tensioned since the eyelets l3" overhang so as to catch on the opposite end edges of the slots. However, in order to further safely secure the parts in position, while still making it easy to quick connect or disconnect springs 14, there is provided further securing means comprising generally L-shaped elements 15 and detents 16. The elements 15 can be installed from either side of the han die, and for this purpose the detents 16 are formed at each end of the handle just above the opposite ends of the base 11. In other words, although only one detent 16 is visible, it is to be understood that there is a similar one at the opposite end of the handle.

The elements 15 have an upright leg which extends through aligned eyelets l3", and a relatively short base leg 15' which is trapped beneath the detent 16. Base leg 15 is trapped beneath detent 16 by virtue of the face that the endmost one of the row of retainers 13 is positioned close to the detent 16 so that it is captive between that retainer and the detent unless it is forcibly raised out of that position past the detent against the resiliency of the contiguous retainer 13. Thus, the eyelets 13", the elements 15, and the detents l6 removably lock the retainers 13 in place. That is to say, as long as the elements 15 are used, there is almost no way for the retainers 13 to accidentally part from the handles when the springs 14 are tensioned. Still, this further safety feature in no practical way interferes with quick addition, subtraction or changing of springs 14.

The securing elements 15 are single-piece members bent to shape from round metal wire stock. The ends of their base legs 15 have upright bent portions 15" which serve as finger grips for the purpose of snapping the base legs 15' up and free of the detents 16 or to lock them below the detents. Since the aligned eyelets 13" and detents 16 are provided at opposite ends of the retainers 13 and handles respectively, the locking wire or clip 15 for the retainers 13 can be inserted from either end and side of the handle. It is also possible to use a pair of wire locking clips 15 with each handle, although this has not been found to be necessary to make the device fail-safe.

I claim:

1. In a chest pull type exerciser comprising a pair of handles interconnected by a plurality of elongated resilient elements, said handles having a base portion and a generally U-shaped hand grip connected thereto, said base portion having a row of transverse slots formed therein, a row of generally U-shaped removable resilient retainers overhanging the opposite ends of said slots on the side of said base portions facing said hand grips, means for connecting opposite ends of said elongated resilient elements to said retainers at the underside of said base portions, and means for further removably securing said retainers in said base portions comprising aligned eyelets formed on the overhanging ends of said retainers along at least one edge of said base portion sides facing said hand grips, and generally L- shaped elements having an elongated upright leg and a base leg which is relatively short with respect to said upright leg, said upright legs extending through said aligned eyelets and said base legs overlying said base portions at the junctures of said U-shaped hand grips with said base portions, detents on said hand grips overlying said base legs, and the endmost ones of said rows of retainers being positioned close to said detents so as to resiliently trap said base legs beneath said detents.

2. In a chest pull type exerciser as in claim 1, wherein the outermost ends of said base legs have finger gripping portions for snapping said base legs above and below said detents.

3. In a chest pull type exerciser as in claim 2, wherein said U-shaped hand grips and base portions comprise unitary single piece integrally molded plastic members, said aligned eyelets being formed along each edge of said base portion sides,and said detents being formed at each end of said hand grips, whereby said L-shaped elements can be secured to said retainers and handles along either side thereof, said retainers comprising integrally bent thin flat metallic spring stock, and said L-.

shaped members comprising integrally bent round wire metallic spring stock. 

1. In a chest pull type exerciser comprising a pair of handles interconnected by a plurality of elongated resilient elements, said handles having a base portion and a generally U-shaped hand grip connected thereto, said base portion having a row of transverse slots formed therein, a row of generally U-shaped removable resilient retainers overhanging the opposite ends of said slots on the side of said base portions facing said hand grips, means for connecting opposite ends of said elongated resilient elements to said retainers at the underside of said base portions, and means for further removably securing said retainers in said base portions comprising aligned eyelets formed on the overhanging ends of said retainers along at least one edge of said base portion sides facing said hand grips, and generally L-shaped elements having an elongated upright leg and a base leg which is relatively short with respect to said upright leg, said upright legs extending through said aligned eyelets and said base legs overlying said base portions at the junctures of said Ushaped hand grips with said base portions, detents on said hand grips overlying said base legs, and the endmost ones of said rows of retainers being positioned close to said detents so as to resiliently trap said base legs beneath said detents.
 2. In a chest pull type exerciser as in claim 1, wherein the outermost ends of said base legs have finger gripping portions for snapping said base legs above and below said detents.
 3. In a chest pull type exerciser as in claim 2, wherein said U-shaped hand grips and base portions comprise unitary single piece integrally molded plastic members, said aligned eyelets being formed along each edge of said base portion sides, and said detents being formed at each end of said hand grips, whereby said L-shaped elements can be secured to said retainers and handles along either side thereof, said retainers comprising integrally bent thin flat metallic spring stock, and said L-shaped members comprising integrally bent round wire metallic spring stock. 